Letters 75–88

Letter 75

To Mr. d'Omonville, Counsellor of the Parliament of Rouen. To per

suade him to maintain the liberalities(1)pledged to the Rouen Seminary,

which he mistakenly feared was being won over to Jansenism

1659 My dear Sir:

I must confess that it causes me a very bitter pang to see you withdraw your support from us. It is true that it would be better not to have any seminary at all than to see it managed and directed by Jansenists. But, thank God, the seminary at Rouen is certainly not in that state, for there is a great difference between a seminary which is under the authority of persons suspected of Jansenism and a seminary which is managed and directed by Jansenists. It is a fact that the seminary is under the authority of certain persons suspected of this pernicious doctrine; but it is under the immediate guidance and direction of persons who are as far removed from it as heaven is from hell.

If in breaking with us, my dear Sir, you were not doing something which will give the Jansenists what they want and which will be most prejudicial to Catholics, gemens tacerem.( 2 ) But consider, I beg of you, that as a result of this breach the seminary will no longer be ours, since all the conditions of the order of Parliament are by no means fulfilled. It will then fall into the hands of the Jansenists, which is precisely what they wish, and is the greatest misfortune that could happen to the city of Rouen and the entire province. (1). As soon a the Rouen seminary was established, it was stipulated that the house was not to be supported by the diocese. Thanks to a donation of ten thousand livres pledged by Mr. d'Omonville, St. John Eudes had been able to assume this obligation. Abandoned now by Mr. d'Omonville, he found himself unable in meet it and forced, consequently, to give up the seminary, which would have allowed the Jansenists to take it over by supplying the necessary sum themselves. Cf. Costil, Annales, de la Congrégation de Jésus et Marie, Vol. 5, P. 337. Despite Mr. d'Omonville's donation, which the Saint succeeded in having maintained, the Rouen seminary passed through great financial smuts in i n early days. (2). Esther 6, 4.

If we are dependent on several suspected persons, that will induce us to keep guard over ourselves with increased effort and vigilance; but if the seminary falls into the hands of the Jansenists, who is going to answer to God for the great evils which will inevitably result, if not those who did not prevent the misfortune when they could have done so? One must always choose the lesser of two evils; now an evil that is neither present nor certain is incomparably smaller than one which is certain and inevitable. You fear that we are turning to Jansenism, although we are more opposed to it than fire is to water; but it is only too certain that if we do not keep the seminary, it will be entrusted to the Jansenists. That is why everyone who has heard this matter discussed cannot understand how it is possible to be in doubt about it, except a single individual from this district ( 3 ) who prefers his own opinion to that of all the directors, religious, and everyone else. Certainly such conduct is highly dangerous.

What likelihood is there, Sir, that one person who has some authority over us can pervert an entire Community which openly professes to wage war upon Jansenism? But were there such a danger, that same reason ought to induce our friends not to abandon us, especially at a time when there is no danger for them, since they are well aware that there is no malice in our ranks, thanks be to God.

Finally, my dear Sir, Jansenism is a very pernicious thing because it is a heresy which destroys faith. Schism and division among the servants of God, however, are no less dangerous, insofar as they destroy charity which is a virtue more excellent even than faith. "And now there remain faith, hope and charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity," (4) says the Holy Spirit.

Therefore I urge you, my dear brother, by the tenderest charity of Our Lord and His most Holy Mother, not to withdraw your support from our brethren who love and honor you much more than can be expressed, and not to destroy such an important work in which you have helped serve as an instrument of God. I implore Him with all my strength to speak to your heart Himself and make you see the peril confronting you, not only because you are destroying the Rouen senti (3). «That is to say, from Caen,» says Costil. Loc. cit. (4). I Cor. 13, 13

nary, but also ruining our little Congregation which assuredly is a work from the hand of God, destined by Him to bring about the salvation of many souls. But men often upset His plans and works. I trust He will not allow that evil to befall us.

Letter 76

To His Lordship Claude Auvry, a former bishop of Coutances(2) The Saint urges him to accept the bishopric of Bayeux, left vacant by the death of Bishop Servien.

Caen, June 1, 1659 Most illustrious and honored Lord:

Behold me at your feet to receive, may it please you, your holy blessing.

Mr. de Saint Hilaire was in the city yesterday evening. He brought me kindest regards from you, for which I thank you very much, my Lord, as also for your kindness toward our confrere, Father Blouet,(3) during the visit you graciously paid him, of which he wrote me in terms full of happiness and delight. For it is true that he entertains for you, my Lord, all the reverence and affection that the most dutiful son in the world could have for a very good father. And all our other confrères, thank God, share the same sentiments, which affords me no little satisfaction.

Mr. de Saint Hilaire told me something that would overwhelm me with joy if it came true. He assured me that Bishop Auvry was being mentioned for the bishopric of Bayeux, something which M r . de Courmont had already told me six days ago. They have been talking about it in this city for a long time. 0 my Lord, if that came to pass, what (1). Letter reproduced from the National Archives of Paris. (2). In 1658 Bishop Auvry resigned from the bishopric of Coutances in favor of Bishop de Lesseville. He then withdrew to Paris, where Mazarin employed him in affairs of state. (3). Father John James, Blouet de Camilly (1632-1711), eldest son of James Blouet and Anne Le Haguais. See Letter 11, note 2. Father Blouet entered the Congregation of Jesus and Mary on February 8, 1655, at the age of 23. In 1680 he was elected superior general. Father Blouet died on August 1 1 , 1711. Cf. Les Fleurs de la Congrégation de Jésus et Marie, Vol. 1, P. 252.

rejoicing it would bring, not only to your most humble servants and unworthy children, but to this whole diocese, where I can assure you that you are greatly honored, loved and wanted. Indeed, I do not believe there could be another place so partial to you. But there is something else: these two gentlemen told me that only your consent is necessary to bring this about. Oh! how I do cast myself at your feet at this moment to implore you not to let this opportunity pass.

I shall perhaps be told that I am moved by self-interest to make this appeal to you. I confess that I am far from disinterested, but my sole interests are those of my God and His Church, and of your eternity, my Lord. Now, I see that if you were bishop of Bayeux and if God gave you the grace to reside there, as I believe you would plan to do, you would render Him invaluable services at little cost in this diocese. You would do great things for the welfare of that Church, and you would enrich your eternity with an infinite number of heavenly graces and blessings.

That is why, my Lord, I pray you, I implore you, I urge you, by all that you love and all that is lovable in heaven and on earth, to think earnestly and effectually about this matter, particularly for the love of the most holy Mother of God, patroness of this diocese as well as of that of Coutances. Since it has pleased God in His goodness to make you a bishop of His Church, please do not neglect the opportunity He gives you to be useful in episcopal duties which are so beautiful, so noble, so holy and divine. The episcopacy was instituted by Our Lord Jesus Christ for the same end as the apostolate, namely, to carry on the work of the salvation of souls which the great Bishop of our souls, in the wording of Scripture, began on earth; the work of the Apostles, the work of the kings and princes of heaven, the work of all works, omnium divinorum divinissimum. Your life, your time, your mind and all that you possess, my Lord could they be used more worthily and advantageously than in such a work? You can do a certain amount of good at the Court, but you would accomplish infinitely more by governing a great diocese like this one. Forgive me for speaking to you at such great length about this, but I am still saying too little on a subject of such importance.

Think about it, then, my Lord, I beg of you once more. I implore

Our Lord and His most Holy Mother to lead you to think about it, to direct this matter in accordance with their most holy will, and to grant me the grace to live and die in all the reverence and deference due you, My most illustrious and honored Bishop, from your most obedient, grateful and faithful servant, JOHN EUDES, missionary priest.

P. S. I forgot to tell you, my Lord, that his Lordship of ... arrived in this city Monday evening. I did myself the honor to go at once to greet him, and he received me with great friendliness, for which I am grateful to you and thank you very humbly. I shall go this week, God willing, to Coutances, but shall remain there only six or seven days in order to leave to begin a mission on Corpus Christi Sunday at Vasteville,(4) in La Hague. If you do me the honor to write me, please address your letters to me at our house in Caen, as if I were there, and they will be forwarded to me. What great happiness if I should learn that Bishop Auvry was appointed to the bishopric of Bayeuxl (4). A village about six miles west of Cherbourg.

Letter 77

To the bursar of the Rouen Seminary

1659 If I considered from a human point of view all that you write me of the needs of your house i n Rouen, it would trouble me a great deal, but I look upon them as being in the province of God who manages all things in the best possible manner. It is usually His way to found His works on lowliness, humiliation, poverty and nothingness. "The base things of the world, and the things that are contemptible, hath God chosen, and things that are not, that he might bring to nought things that are." (I) (1). I Cor. 1, 28.

That should not keep us from doing, on our part, all that we can, because that is His will; but let us take care not to lose confidence or allow ourselves to become distrustful, for thus do we bind the hands of divine Bounty. "Be strengthened in the Lord and in the might of his power."(2) If He i s concerned even about the hairs of our heads, how much more about other things of greater importance! Let us be anxious only to please Him and accomplish faithfully what He asks of us, and He will take care of all that is necessary and expedient for us. (2). Eph. 6, 10.

Letter 78

To Father John James Blouet de Camilly. On the mission at Vasteville.

Vasteville, July 9, 1659 ... Thirty missionaries would not be enough,(1) so great are the crowds who come from all sides to hear the sermons. Sometimes these people, having been deeply moved, wait for a week around the confessionals before they can make their confessions. In short, God's blessings on this mission are very abundant. (1). St. John Eudes had with him twelve missionaries, seven from his own Congregation and five helpers. Boulay, Op. Cit., Vol. 2, P. 288.

Letter 79

To Father John James Blouet de Camilly, in Paris. On the success of

the Vasteville mission, in the diocese of Coutances

Vasteville, July 23, 1659.

My dearest brother:

I cannot tell you what blessings God is bestowing on this mission. It is certainly wonderful.

I have not preached in the church for quite some time now, for al-

though it is very large, it is nevertheless too small on this occasion. I can truthfully say that we have more than fifteen thousand people present on Sundays.

There are twelve confessors, but without exaggeration there is enough work for fifty. People come from a distance of eight or ten leagues, and their hearts are so touched that there is nothing to be seen but tears and nothing to be heard but laments from the poor penitent men and women. The results observed by the confessors in the tribunal are wonderful. But what grieves us is that we shall be able to confess only a fraction of these people. We are exhausted. The missionaries see some who have been waiting for a week without having been able to get to confession, and who cast themselves on their knees whenever they meet a priest, imploring him with suppliant hands and tears in their eyes to hear them. And yet this is already our sixth week (1)here.

What a great blessing the missions arel And how necessary! What a great evil it is to hinder them in any way! Oh, if those who have prevented us from giving several in this diocese only knew the harm they have done! "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."(2)

Let us pray the Lord of the harvest, my dear brother, to send laborers for it, saying frequently to Him with all our hearts: "Lord of the harvest, send labourers into thy harvest." What are all those doctors and bachelors of arts doing in Paris, while souls are perishing by the thousand for want of someone to offer them a hand to withdraw them from perdition and preserve them from everlasting fire? Certainly, if I dared, I should go straight to Paris and cry out in the Sorbonne and the other colleges: Fire! Fire! The flames of hell are consuming the whole universe! Come, you doctors, bachelors and parish priests, come, all you ecclesiastics, and help to extinguish them! (3) ' (1). St. John Eudes and his assistants began the minion on June 15, the Sunday in the Octave of Corpus Christi and closed it in the first week of August. (2). Luke 23, 34. (3). This is perhaps a reminiscence of the beautiful words written by St. Francis Xavier a century earlier in one of his letters: "It often occurs to me," he said, "to go through the academics of Europe, principally the one in Paris, crying out with all my might to those who have more learning than charity: Ah! how many ways late heaven and are cam into hell through yaw fault!»

Letter 80

To a Confrere. On the benefits of missions

1659 I have never enjoyed more palpable consolations than here, where I see enormous crowds of people coming to the sermons and besieging our confessionals. If the priests who waste their time and talents had ever experienced one iota of these comforts and consolations, I can assure you that they would hasten to labor in the field of missions and offer us their services.

Letter 81

To Father John James Blotter de Cantilly, in Paris. On the

Villedieu mission ( 1 )

Autumn of 1659 Here there are even greater crowds than at Vasteville.

We have fourteen confessors, but undoubtedly fifty would not suffice. It would cause your heart to break with pity to see so many poor people who come three and four leagues, notwithstanding the had roads, asking us with tears in their eyes to hear their confessions. They wait for six or eight days without being able to be confessed, so great is the rush, and they sleep at night in doorways and marketplaces, despite the weather. «Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth labourers into his harvest.»(2) (1). Villedieu is a town in the district of Avranches in Normandy. The mission began on September at and closed on November 1. (2). Luke 10, 2.

Letter 82

To Father John James Blotter de Camilly. On Mr. de Langrie's cure.( 1 )

1659 May Jesus be eternally blessed for the improved health of our dear Mr. de Langrie.

Your letters of today have given me renewed vigor. It is not that we have placed our trust and reliance in any creature. No, God forbid. But how is it possible not to feel the loss of such a good and sincere friend, whom God in His goodness has been pleased to give us? Nevertheless, whenever He deigns to deprive us of him and all the others, we shall try to say as best we can: "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away. As it hath pleased the Lord so it is done. Blessed be the name of the Lord." (2)

Please assure him that we are praying to God for him, but that we ask for nothing more than the accomplishment of His most adorable will in him. (1). Mr. de Langrie was Royal Councillor and President of the Normandy Parliament. He was one of the benefactors of the Caen Chapel. Cf. Boulay, op. cit., Vol. 2, P. 329. Mr. de Langrie recovered and lived until 1663. (2). Job 7, 2 1.

Letter 83

To Father John James Blotter de Camilly. Regarding the plan of the

chapel at Caen, drawn up through the efforts of Father Mannoury

1659 If Father Mannoury has included anything superfluous and contrary to simplicity in his plan, I shall certainly cross it out, for I am the sworn enemy of everything that violates this virtue and I will tolerate only what is necessary and without embellishment.

Letter 84

To Father John James Blouet de Camilly, in Paris. On the edifying con

duct of the candidates for ordination at the Rouen seminary

Rouen, December 15, 1659 It is true that our good God bestows great blessings upon us through His infinite mercy, and that He manifests Himself as the author and founder, the superior and protector of our little Congregation, for which may He be for ever blessed!

There are now almost a hundred of us in this house. Among this number are many candidates for ordination and several boarders or seminarians who afford us great satisfaction, through the grace of Our Lord, because for the most part they are very tractable and unassuming. The candidates will leave tomorrow. I have given them a daily exhortation and I hope that God will thereby be glorified.

Letter 85

To Father John James Blouet de Camilly. On the calumnies ( 1 )of which

the Saint was a victim in 1659

Rouen, December 17, 1659 The big dogs(2) in this part of the country have neither bitten nor barked at the little white dog' with black cars, to the best of my know! (1). After the death of Mr. John de Bernières on May 3, 1659, the members of the Hermitage in Caen proceeded to fight Jansenism, and anything that resembled it, with an imprudent zeal. They made demonstrations in the streets of Caen, that were not of a nature to attract the sympathy of intelligent men and women. The enemies of St. John Eudes now endeavored to attribute to him some of the responsibility of these silly proceedings. The Saint hastened to dissociate himself from them. Cf. Joly, Life ot St. John Eudes, p. 134. (2). These probably were the Jansenists. (3). The Saint himself.

edge. But in Caen they are biting and tearing him into bits, for the reason you well know. He belongs to a Master Who is certainly able to protect him if He so desires. If He finds pleasure in seeing him mauled and devoured, fiat! fiat! I hope, nevertheless, that He will defend His poor little dog and give him the strength to bite, strangle and kill his Master's enemies, which are the sins of man.

Letter 86

To Mother Margaret Frances Patin.(1) On her spiritual state

Rouen, December 24, 1659 My very dear and good Mother:

May the divine Infant Jesus be the heart of our hearts and the spirit of our spirits.

All that you have written me of the condition and dispositions of your soul is indisputable proof that our most amiable Saviour has a very special love for you. There is nothing to fear, m y dearest Mother; you are in a good state. Remain undisturbed and confident, abandoning all that you are, in time and in eternity, to the most adorable will of God, Who has established His reign in your heart and will reign there for ever in the blessed eternity. But I beseech you, my dearest Mother, not to allow yourself to believe that you can or ought to do now what you have done in the past. On the contrary, you should greatly moderate your mortifications, and give your body all the rest and care necessary to conserve your health. If you do that, I assure you that you will be doing something highly pleasing to God, and a great deal more pleasing than if you were to do otherwise.

My most cordial greetings to all our dear Sisters in general, and to each one individually. I implore them to carry out faithfully their daily obligations to the divine Infant, His Holy Mother and St. Joseph, and to strive in competition with one another to imitate the humility of this Infant Jesus, as also His simplicity, innocence, obedience, meek (1). See Letter 48, note 1.

ness, tenderness, cordial charity and, above all, His great love for His most Blessed Mother; and not to forget to recommend to the Son and the Mother him who is, in the sacred love of their most Holy Hearts, my very dear and good Mother, Devotedly yours, JOHN EUDES, missionary priest.

Letter 87

To Sister Mary of the Nativity Herson, His Niece. The Saint testifies to his conformity to

the will of God, and gives her spiritual counsel

Rouen, January 7, 1660 My dearest Sister:

May the divine will be our guide in all things.(1)

It is true that my months of absence are sometimes quite long, and longer than I am aware of, but not longer than I wish. For, through the mercy of my Lord, it seems to me that I desire nothing, either in this world or in the next, except to abandon myself entirely to the sweet possession of the most adorable will of my God, so that it may lead me wherever it pleases, and do with me, everywhere and at all times, whatever is most pleasing to it. Hence I cannot tell you yet when I shall return to Caen. I am well aware that, with the grace of Our Lord, it will be when I wish, but I do not know yet when I shall wish to do so; that is to say, I do not know when God desires it.

You describe your spiritual state very well to me, my dear Sister. I have nothing more to tell you on that subject, save that you should try not to worry about your poverty and wretchedness, but to dwell in peace, humility, patience, submission and abandonment to the divine will, remaining obedient to your superioress, and faithful to the observance of your Rules.

Above all, my dear daughter, I recommend three things to you. The first is always to preserve in your heart a firm and generous resolution (1). This is the first instance of the use of the salutation. See Letter 34, note 3.

to overcome the shortcomings that you recognize in yourself. The second is to keep your intention pure and upright, protesting frequently to Our Lord that you wish to do nothing save for His glory and love, and to accomplish His most adorable will in all things. The third is to have a great love, meekness and cordiality in your heart toward all your Sisters, demonstrating it by your words and actions.

I implore the most amiable Infant Jesus to live and reign in your heart, and in the hearts of all our dear Sisters. I send my regards to them, one and all, with every possible token of affection, wishing them a thousand and more blessings and a great abundance of graces, that they may use this new year in a holy manner and in conformity with the most holy will of God.

I am delighted that your brother,(2) my nephew, is so close to the time when he is to consecrate himself to His Divine Majesty through the solemn vows of holy religion. I implore God i n His infinite goodness to grant him whatever graces are necessary and desirable to perform this act well. When you write to him, please give him my kindest regards.

I remain with all my heart, my dearest niece, Sister, and daughter, Devotedly yours, JOHN EUDES, missionary priest. (1). Mary Herson had two brothers: John, born October 2, 1632, and Isaac, born May 3, 1638. Cf. Boulay, Vie du P. Eudes, Vol. 1, p. 17.

Letter 88

To Mother Margaret Frances Patin. On the decease of Sister Mary

of the Child Jesus de Bois-David(1)

Rouen, February 1660 J.M.J. My dear good Mother:

May the divine will be our guide in all things.

The decease of our dear Sister Mary of the Child Jesus surprised me a little at first; but having cast my eyes upon that most adorable will which arranges all things in the best possible way, my heart remained at peace and my lips could only utter: My God, "not my will but Thine be done!"(2) Ah it is well that way, my dear Mother, since such is the pleasure of the divine Child Jesus, Who willed to take this dear sister, consecrated to the Divine Childhood, at the very time which is dedicated to this great mystery. She has gone to take possession of heaven in the name of all the sisters and to begin an eternal establishment of the Community of Our Lady of Charity. She has gone to paradise, there to adore, praise and love the most holy Trinity unceasingly and for all eternity, together with Jesus and Mary and all the blessed, in the name and on behalf of all her dear sisters. These are the first fruits of your house which you have offered to His Divine Majesty. It i s your first sacrifice which must have been very pleasing before the throne of Almighty God.

But when I say that she has gone to heaven, I do not mean that she has arrived there yet, for sometimes one is a long time on the way. That is why we must pray a great deal for this dear sister. For my part, I will not fail to do so, with God's help.

I am afraid that the fervor of our good sisters and their desire to mortify themselves may impel them to endure excessive cold, which may cause illness among them. I pray you, my dear Mother, to take precautions against this.

With respect to Holy Communion for the sick, you may arrange for (1). Sister Mary of the Child Jesus died on January 3, 1660. See Letter 6, note 1. (2). Luke 22, 42.

it according to your own judgment. I thank Our Lord and His most Holy Mother for having given you the Old Bank House.

Sincere greetings to all our dear sisters. I remain with all my heart, my dear good Mother, Devotedly yours, JOHN EUDES, missionary priest.